Philippians 4:21-23; Greetings and Grace

PastorRodney’s Weblog

11/10 Philippians 4:21-23; Greetings and Grace; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20241110_philippians-4_21-23.mp3

Today we come to the last verses in the letter of Paul to the church in Philippi. Before we look at the final greetings and the benediction, I want to walk back through the letter to remind ourselves of some of the grand and beautiful truths we’ve learned together.

Review of Philippians:

Paul begins with thanksgiving and joy for their partnership with him in the gospel (1:3-5).

He asserts his gospel confidence that God without fail finishes what he begins (1:6).

Paul’s joy is that Christ is proclaimed (1:18).

His eager expectation and hope is that Christ be honored in his body (1:20).

What he desires for this church is a robust gospel unity (1:27)

He teaches us that suffering is a gift alongside believing in Jesus (1:29)

His instruction is to humble ourselves for the sake of unity, counting others more significant than ourselves. This fills up the joy of the apostle (2:2-3).

Paul showed us Jesus; his humility, his thinking of others; he shows us why the incarnation, why the crucifixion, why the resurrection and exaltation; that the Father would glorify the Son, and that Jesus would bring glory to his Father (2:9-11).

He teaches us that we are able to work these characteristics out in our lives only because God works in us both the ability and the desire to please him (2:12-13).

We shine for God’s glory when we put aside grumbling and disputing and hold fast to God’s word (2:14-16).

Paul’s privilege of being poured out in service to others brings him joy, and he invites them to rejoice with him (2:17-18).

He holds up Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of those who are genuinely concerned for others and seek the interests of Jesus Christ above their own (2:20-21).

Joy in the Lord protects us from the danger of dogs who tempt us to put our confidence in the flesh (3:1-3).

He shows us that which is of surpassing worth; knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (3:8), and where righteousness comes from; being found in him (3:9).

Paul’s knowing Christ and being found in him, the fact that Christ has made him his own, his confidence that he will bring to completion the work he began, that he is at work in us to give us both the desire and ability, does not make him lax; he strains forward, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (3:12-14).

Paul laments the enemies of the cross with their minds set on earthly things; but our minds are set in the heavenlies, eagerly anticipating the return of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (3:18-20)

We can stand firm in the Lord no matter what comes our way, because we know Jesus is king, and he is coming back to transform us (3:20-4:1).

He commands us to rejoice, and he shows us how to kill anxiety with prayerful gratitude (4:4-6).

He shows us how to renew our minds, to receive the peace of God and know that the God of peace is with us. (4:7-9).

In the final section he shares with us the secret of true contentment unaffected by circumstances. (4:11-13). He helps us to re-think what our needs are; ultimately the gospel, knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, being found in him.

He reminds us that we can’t outgive God, and that God will supply our every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (4:19), and the thought of his riches in glory causes him to enter in to the ultimate purpose of everything; bringing glory to God;

Philippians 4:20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Amen; a Hebrew word meaning ‘truly, so be it’ A solemn attestation to the truth of the statement; an invitation to add our amen to his glory.

Greet Every One

Paul closes this letter with a greeting and a benediction as is customary in all his letters; but this one is different, and it is instructive in what ways it is different.

In Romans, he takes a whole chapter to greet the church, addressing 25 specific individuals by name along with some groups that he wants to greet. Here in Philippians he names no one.

In Romans and 1 and 2 Corinthians he instructs them to greet one another. In Romans 16:15 he says ‘greet …all the saints’. Here in Philippians he simply says ‘greet every saint.’

You can’t see this in English, but ‘greet’ is plural; he is instructing a plurality to do the greeting. Likely this connects to who the letter is addressed to

Philippians 1:1 …To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

It is likely that the letter would be delivered to the overseers of the church, and it would be their responsibility to communicate the contents to ‘all the saints’. Here he addresses the overseers and instructs them ‘you all greet every saint’.

There is a subtle difference between saying ‘greet all the saints’ as he does in Romans, and ‘greet every saint’ as he does here. This is personal, individual. Paul doesn’t name any individuals, because he has addressed an underlying current of disunity in this church, and he refuses to play into that by naming some but not all the believers. But he wants every believer to be seen, acknowledged and valued individually, and he calls on the plurality of local leaders in the church to do this.

Saints Made Holy in Christ Jesus

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. He addressed this letter to ‘all the saints in Christ Jesus.’

A ‘saint’ or ‘holy one’ means one who is set apart as belonging to God. As Paul says to the Corinthian believers:

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We are not saints because we have attained to some level of holiness; we are saints because we have been bought. We live for God’s glory because we belong to him. In Philippians 3, Paul claimed a blameless righteousness according to the law, but this did not make him holy. He counted it all loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Knowing Christ Jesus as Lord is how one becomes a saint.

Only those who are ‘in Christ’ are saints. Only those who are

Philippians 3:9 …found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Only those who are ‘in Christ’ through faith, who are clothed in the righteousness of Christ can be called ‘saints’. And every one who is ‘in Christ’ is a saint. This is not a higher class of Christians who have arrived. This is the new believer as well as the seasoned disciple. Saints, Holy Ones; this is our identity in Christ. He sends his greeting to every saint, each one who by faith in the finished work of Jesus is found to be ‘in Christ’

The Brothers With Me

He sends greetings specifically from ‘the brothers who are with me’. This would include Timothy, who he hopes to send to them soon, and any other co-laborers in the gospel who are with him. They knew Timothy and Timothy knew them. There was a connection, because Timothy had spent time in Philippi. But it seems Paul had fostered a connection with the other brothers, those who may not have known the Philippians personally. Paul had told them about this church, as he bragged on them to the Corinthian church, and no doubt they had prayed together for them. There was a connection and the brothers wanted to send this church their greeting.

All The Saints (in Rome)

Paul sends greetings from ‘all the saints’. This would be the entire body of Christ there in Rome. Even in custody Paul found a way to fellowship with the local church. If this is the same period, we are told in Acts:

Acts 28:16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. …30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Paul was not only preaching the gospel, but connecting people with the church. Again there was a connection; a sense of community between these churches separated geographically by 600 miles but united as saints who are in Christ. ‘All the saints greet you.’

Caesar’s Household

He highlights yet another subset of the church in Rome that would be of special interest to the believers in Philippi; greetings are sent especially from those of Caesar’s household. ‘Caesar’s household’ does not refer to Caesar’s immediate family unit; it is a phrase that points more to Caesar’s administration, from servants to soldiers to officials in his government. Remember Paul encouraged them in chapter 1:

Philippians 1:12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard [ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ] and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

The Philippians took pride in their status as citizens in their Roman colony. But believers were also suffering persecution under Roman rule, and Paul is in prison in Rome. This is encouraging news indeed, that the gospel is penetrating the ranks even of Caesar Nero. There are now saints in Caesar’s household!

Later in 2 Timothy, Paul will write:

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

They can bind the preacher of the gospel, but they cannot contain the gospel message. One day every knee will bow to Jesus Christ as Lord, and some are even bowing now.

Benediction; Grace

From his opening words to this final benediction, Paul packs each letter he writes with gospel truth, After greeting every saint and connecting them with the larger body of Christ, Paul closes this letter with a benediction of God’s grace.

Philippians 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Grace. Grace is what the Christian life is all about. Grace is the means of every blessing coming to us. Grace is God’s undeserved kindness freely given to us in Jesus.

Grace is from God because God is the source of every good.

Grace is undeserved; through our actions, thoughts and attitudes, we actually un-deserve any good from God. What we deserve is wrath. Grace comes through Jesus Christ,

Grace is ‘of the Lord Jesus Christ’. It comes from him, he purchased it with his blood, it flows through him, through his taking my sin to the cross and paying for it with his death. It is found in him, and it comes to those who are found in him.

Grace is the good I don’t deserve coming my way. Grace is freely given, because God is liberally and lavishly gracious.

Jesus is full of grace and truth. Jesus has grace for you today! Receive his grace! Understand what you do deserve, and receive what you don’t!

Grace To You, Grace Go With You

Paul opens his letters:

Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

And he closes:

Philippians 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

At the beginning of each letter, Paul seeks to bring God’s grace and peace to his readers through his writing. At the close of his writing, he asks that the grace he has communicated to us would go with us. May you carry this grace in your spirit from this day forward, may it shape your whole life and attitude.

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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org